Prepared by Ralph Pearce for the Agricultural Adaptation Council

Guelph, ON - Developing new markets for existing products requires innovation, cooperation and a visionary quality that looks beyond conventional practices. A new partnership between Pride Pak Canada and the Ontario Apple Sales Group (OASG) boasts all of these traits and more, thanks in part to funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC). For years, apple growers in Ontario have seen their opportunities confined to markets for a relatively small number of fresh or processed products. But this joint venture, using innovative packing technology, will provide apple growers in the province access to a ‘fresh’ market which largely has been inaccessible for years.

Pride Pak, the Mississauga, Ontario-based packing company, joined forces with the OASG to solve the challenge of increasing shelf life for fresh cut apples. This innovative process began in 2002-03 through the efforts of Dr. Vasantha Rupasinghe and researchers with the University of Guelph, along with Dr. Peter Toivonen with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland in B.C. With a funding grant of $255,375 from the AAC, these partners developed a packing process which uses a tasteless vitamin and mineral solution to prevent browning, thus increasing shelf life and answering a growing consumer demand for fresh-cut product. The move also will create a market for mid-sized apples, which previously held a lower value because of their less-preferred sizes. Research indicates the market potential for pre-sliced apples for children’s lunches to be $750,000 in Ontario and Quebec alone.

Above all, the project points out the benefits of developing solutions from within the agri-food industry, and that fact is lauded by the stakeholders involved in the project.

“Certainly these types of programs are worthy of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s support, since it helps out growers, it certainly helps us, and it’s also good for the consumer,” says Steve Karr, president of Pride Pak Canada. In a time when much of society’s focus is on healthy living, he adds, fresh cut apples from this project are an excellent choice for parents and children, with no preservatives or additives, and a longer shelf life. “I’m a great believer that government should get involved and support projects such as this. And they did, and I appreciate the openness they’ve shown and in understanding the issues, and now things are going in the right direction.”

“That we could answer that demand for products with existing markets was certainly an appealing aspect of the project, but when you broaden the market, and find a use for those mid-sized apples, that’s a significant bonus,” adds Bob Bedggood, chair of the AAC. “We can also build more effective and profitable relationships between producers, marketers and retailers, and really work together, which is further proof of the benefits of that spirit of cooperation and of building alliances that we hear more about, every day.”

The inaugural Agri-Food Innovation ‘product’ award was presented to stakeholders of the Sliced Apple Project at the Agri-Food Symposium, Monday, June 20th in Toronto.

Additional opportunities within the fast food industry and other retailers are being examined for Pride Pak and the OASG. The sliced apple products are available in participating Sobey’s outlets in Ontario, under the Pride Pak label. Karr adds Pride Pak can accommodate private labelling needs, as well.

The Agricultural Adaptation Council is a non-profit, grass roots coalition of 62 agricultural, agri-business and rural organizations dedicated to providing financial resources to assist Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food industry remain profitable, grow and maintain its economic strength. This project was funded through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development Fund (CARD) which is the predecessor to the $240 million Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) Program. The Agricultural Adaptation Council, based out of Guelph, is responsible for delivering ACAAF funds in Ontario. For information on the AAC please contact the AAC at 519 - 822 - 7554, or visit the website at www.adaptcouncil.org.

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For more information contact:

Nadine Buitenhuis, Communications Coordinator
Agricultural Adaptation Council
Phone: 519-822-7554
Fax: 519-822-6248
E-mail: nadine@adaptcouncil.org